§ Mr. WallerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle registration numbers have been wrongly allocated by the driver and vehicle licensing centre as a result of criminal action.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAbout 1,200 registration numbers have been withdrawn in the last six years because of doubts over their validity arising from criminal trials. The majority have been reinstated after the completion of the relevant court cases and detailed investigation by the Department, either because criminal action had not been proved, or because the numbers were in the possession of innocent parties and there was no risk of duplication. Exact figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.